Botervloot met onderschaal, uit één geheel; met los deksel c. 1880

This butter dish with an integral saucer and separate lid was made by De Porceleijne Fles, using tin-glazed earthenware. It’s an example of Delftware, which imitates Chinese porcelain but uses readily available clay, coated with a white glaze that simulates the smooth, bright surface of true porcelain. The cobalt-blue decoration, painted by hand, gives the piece its character. Notice the contrast between the free floral patterns on the lid and saucer, with the neat geometric band around the butter dish itself. The dish’s smooth, cool surface speaks to the refined habits of its owner. But it’s important to remember the many hands involved in its production, from the potters and painters to the miners who extracted the raw materials, and all the merchants who brought those materials to the factory. Everyday objects like this offer a rich insight into the economic and social life of the time.